6
S moke S ignals
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Former Grand Ronde officer pleads no contest to charges
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
DALLAS — Former Grand Ronde
Tribal Police Department K-9 Offi-
cer Patrick McConnell pleaded no
contest to two misdemeanor counts
of tampering with public records
and first-degree official misconduct
on Wednesday, Oct. 19, in Polk
County Circuit Court.
Judge Gilbert Feibleman accept-
ed McConnell’s plea and found him
guilty of the two counts. The state
dismissed two other misdemeanor
charges – tampering with evidence
and false swearing – against McCo-
nnell as part of a stipulated plea
agreement.
Feibleman said that the maxi-
mum penalty McConnell was facing
was 12 months in jail and a $6,250
fine per count.
McConnell agreed to voluntarily
surrender his Oregon police cer-
tification and was sentenced to
probation for 18 months and fined
$100 per count, or $200 total.
“Yes, sir,” McConnell said when
asked by Feibleman if he under-
stood and agreed to the plea deal.
McConnell, 40, was accused of
tampering with evidence on Jan. 23
while he was still employed by the
Grand Ronde Police Department
when he “unlawfully and know-
ingly” concealed a syringe that was
considered physical evidence in a
drug case.
Prosecutors alleged that in the
days immediately after tampering
with evidence, McConnell made a
“false entry in a public record, re-
garding evidence found.” The report
was entered into the Tribal Police
database.
The drug case he was work-
ing on was submitted to the Polk
County District Attorney’s Office
and McConnell was the only law
enforcement officer to testify be-
Chemawa hosting Veterans Powwow
SALEM – Chemawa Indian School, 3700 Chemawa Road N.E., in
Salem will be holding a Veterans Powwow in its gymnasium with
grand entries scheduled for 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5.
Master of ceremonies will be Marcus Red Thunder and there will
be dancing, singing, fry bread, crafts and activities to support Che-
mawa student clubs.
Admission is free and the public is welcome.
Vendors should contact Sonya Olson at 503-399-5721, ext. 1284, or
Melinda Puerta at 503-399-5721, ext. 1227. For general information
about the powwow, contact Olson.
Online degree programs
Turn your college credits or associate degree into a more powerful
four-year degree from Portland State University. Undergraduate degrees
offered: BA/BS in Social Science, BA/BS in Arts & Letters and BA/BS
in Liberal Studies.
For more information about online degree programs, contact the PSU
Salem Center at 503-315-4281.
fore a grand jury that eventually
charged Lydell Lance Suppah with
a count of unlawful possession of
methamphetamine and giving false
information to a peace officer.
In March, Marion County Dep-
uty District Attorney Jennifer K.
Gardiner requested a copy of the
grand jury’s notes in the Suppah
case because she was investigating
whether “false statements were
made under oath.”
The court documents filed against
McConnell alleged that he “unlaw-
fully and knowingly” made a false
sworn statement regarding the
evidence against Suppah and that
he knew the statement was false.
Records show that McConnell
issued Suppah a traffic citation
for failure to obey a traffic control
device and driving while suspended
in January.
Tribal Council Chief of Staff Sta-
cia Martin issued a statement in
July that said: “On Feb. 20, 2016,
the Grand Ronde Tribal Police
Department received a report al-
leging misconduct by Tribal Police
Officer Patrick McConnell. Officer
McConnell was immediately placed
on administrative leave pending
investigation of the allegations. An
independent investigation of the
allegations was conducted by the
Oregon State Police with the Tribal
Police Department’s consent and
full cooperation. Officer McConnell
resigned his employment with the
Tribe on March 2, 2016. The Grand
Ronde Tribal Police Department is
committed to ensuring the public
safety of the community and the
fair and equitable enforcement of
the law.”
McConnell was one of the first
police officers hired by the Grand
Ronde Tribal Police Department in
early 2013. He worked with Tribal
K-9 Officer Nixwa in drug detection
for the Tribal police and surrounding
law enforcement agencies. He came
to Grand Ronde after three years
with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
McConnell originally pleaded not
guilty to four misdemeanor counts
in Polk County Circuit Court on
July 7. He was represented by Sa-
lem defense attorney Robert Gunn.
During the sentencing hearing,
Gardiner said McConnell has a
job opportunity overseas and that
his probation will not prohibit him
from taking the position. The most
important thing, she added, was
that McConnell had surrendered
his police certification in the state
of Oregon.
CTGR Higher Education
Program deadlines set
There are now only two Higher Education programs depending
on whether you are full-time or part-time. The deadline for the
Full-Time College program is at least 30 days before the start of
classes. The deadline for the Part-Time College program is at least
10 days before the start of class.
Visit the Tribal website for more program information and an
application. www.grandronde.org/departments/education/high-
er-education/
CTGR Annual Fish Distribution
Natural Resources Department
Fish Lab
47010 S.W. Hebo Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
503-879-2424
GRAND RONDE LIVING and
ENROLLED TRIBAL MEMBERS
Must show current photo I.D.
Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016 – 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 9, 2016 – 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Elders will have a special line established to expediently fill their requests. To ensure this, only Elder
orders will be filled using this line. Thank you for understanding and consideration of others.
PORTLAND SATELLITE OFFICE DISTRIBUTION
NO PORTLAND SATELLITE DISTRIBUTION
If picking up for others, a signed release AND copy of Tribal ID or
CIB is required!
© Paramount Pictures
No early or late pickup
Fish will NOT be mailed
If you have any questions please call the Natural Resources Department 503-879-2424.
DECEMBER 2016 Salmon Distribution Release
I
give
Signature of Tribal member:
, Roll Number
,
permission to pick up my salmon.
Date:
A copy of Tribal ID or CIB MUST accompany this release. No exceptions!
Family Movie Night
11.10.16
5:15pm
Tribal Gym
Come eat dinner & dessert and watch a movie with Youth Prevention. If you have
any questions call Shannon Stanton 503-879-1489
Thank you for respecting our Grand Ronde Community & Culture by not diplaying
gang affiliation and by not bringing drugs, alcohol, or weapons to this event.